Audax Private Equity Acquires Revolution Dancewear

BOSTON —June 28, 2018 — Audax Private Equity today announced that it has partnered with management to acquire Revolution Dancewear — global supplier of dance recital costumes, competition costumes, footwear, and dancewear. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Geoffrey S. Rehnert, co-CEO, Audax Group, said: “Revolution is a recognized leader in the dance costume and dancewear market. We look forward to supporting CEO Joe Sclafani and the entire Revolution team to continue growing the business organically and through acquisitions.”

Revolution Dancewear, headquartered in Niles, Ill., is a globally recognized, costume and apparel platform that is known for its quality designs, value proposition, and recognized customer service to dance studios, dance schools, public programs, and dancers worldwide. Revolution offers one of the broadest suites of products, including recital costumes, competition costumes, footwear, leotards, and tights under its Revolution, 10th House, and Plume brands.

Joe Sclafani, CEO of Revolution Dancewear, said, “We’re excited to partner with Audax as we continue to build the Revolution platform both organically and through acquisitions. Audax’ resources will help us accelerate our growth as we expand into new product lines and geographies and invest in technology tools to support our dance studio partners.”

Robert W. Baird acted as exclusive financial advisor and Cohen & Grigsby, PC served as legal counsel to Revolution Dancewear and Incline Equity. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as counsel to Audax.

Posted June 28, 2018

Source: Audax Group

EXENTA Makes Real-Time Production Monitoring A Reality For Remote Retailers, Brands, Execs

NEW YORK CITY  —June 28, 2018 — EXENTA Inc., an innovator in next-generation information technology solutions for the apparel and other soft goods industries, is unveiling a groundbreaking new Shopfloor 3PM™ (Third-Party Manufacturing) cloud solution that enables retailers, brands, sourcing and production executives to achieve real-time visibility into order status, work-in-process (WIP), and other important manufacturing activities from anywhere in the world. Using a standard web browser, stakeholders can get up to the minute information on production orders, WIP levels, product quality, and more from third-party providers, contractors, or owned and operated factories.

According to Exenta President and CEO Roberto Mangual: “After transforming factories around the globe with real-time shop floor control solutions, we recognized the opportunity to provide the transparency and control needed by remote production package buyers, sourcing and supply chain managers, and others that rely on status updates and on-time deliveries from factories around the globe. We are already seeing strong interest from major retailers in this exciting solution.”

When used as a standalone solution, the Shopfloor 3PM system uses a series of cost-effective Android™-powered tablets to collect production information from key factory checkpoints that represent manufacturing process milestones; such as cutting, parts construction, select assembly operations, quality control inspections, finishing, packing and shipping. This data is processed in the cloud and made accessible to authorized users through any Internet-capable device. Factories that are already equipped with, or choose to install, the full Shopfloor SFC system can provide an expanded set of data on individual production operations as well as time and attendance, up/downtime, efficiency, utilization, incentive pay, capacity planning and scheduling, and other detailed information. Summary reports are also available through the system.

“Meeting customer demand in today’s fast-paced business environment requires that both buyers and sellers keep on top of manufacturing to stay ahead of the game”, explained Exenta Director of Real-time Analytics Justin Hershoran. “Shopfloor 3PM brings real-time visibility and control to entire supply chains with always up to date and actionable information.”

Posted June 28, 2018

Source: EXENTA

Wrangler® Report Shows Potential of Sustainability Data in Agricultural Supply Chains

GREENSBORO, N.C. —June 28, 2018 — Denim brand Wrangler® published a report today with farm-management software company, MyFarms℠, explaining how field-level sustainability data can be used to strengthen business relationships and results in agricultural supply chains. Wrangler simultaneously announced it will offer 125 MyFarms subscriptions to U.S. cotton growers to make it easier for them to measure and report their sustainability data.

“From Burden to Benefit: Sustainability Data in the Agricultural Supply Chain” is the second paper in the Wrangler Science & Conservation series. It shares best practices for protecting data privacy and leveraging data analysis to advance common goals shared by growers, brands, and other links in the supply chain. The paper draws on Wrangler’s experience in the cotton supply chain to share learnings relevant to other food and fiber industries, including how to build trust with growers, and how to align the business interests of different links in the supply chain.

“Farmers work diligently to bring a cotton crop to harvest each year and their challenges are many,” said Roian Atwood, sustainability director for Wrangler. “As an apparel manufacturer, Wrangler wants to improve the environmental performance of our products. But to ask growers to make an additional effort to track and share farm-level data, we need to try to create something of value for them in return. That’s what we’re attempting to do with the MyFarms software.”

MyFarms is cloud-based software that helps growers make crop-management decisions by allowing them to anonymously compare their performance with their peers on metrics like average erosion rate and energy-use efficiency through integration of sustainability metrics from the Fieldprint® Platform — a pioneering sustainability assessment framework developed by Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture. Other features include automated calculators to save growers time in determining how much seed, fertilizer and spray to purchase for their fields; hourly rainfall and wind speed data; and precision agriculture map analysis.

“The MyFarms platform was built by farmers for farmers to make their jobs easier and more profitable,” said MyFarms Founder and Managing Director Chris Fennig. “In funding the expansion of our data exchange to cotton growers, Wrangler has effectively gifted the industry with a powerful foundation for tracking and measuring both environmental outcomes and financial benefits.”

Wrangler funded the development of the cotton-grower interface on MyFarms, including a feature that will make it quicker and easier for cotton growers to measure their sustainability performance and operational efficiency utilizing Field to Market’s embedded sustainability metrics. Both Wrangler and MyFarms are members of Field to Market, and as a qualified data management partner, MyFarms uses the science-based metric outcomes data generated by the Fieldprint® Platform to quantify the environmental impact of cotton production for Wrangler, while returning valuable production insights to farmers.

The 125 MyFarms subscriptions will be available for the 2018 harvest season to cotton growers involved with numerous U.S. cotton initiatives, including e3 growers, Better Cotton Initiative (USA), Texas Alliance for Water Conservation and others.

“We’re excited to see the results of this software integration, particularly the support for cotton farmers through a seamless solution to measure the sustainability performance and efficiency of their operations by harnessing the sustainability metrics of the Fieldprint Platform,” said Rod Snyder, president of Field to Market. “Wrangler understands how important it is to reduce the reporting burden for farmers, and in the process they could be creating a wealth of new knowledge and opportunities for the entire supply chain.”

Posted June 28, 2018

Source: Wrangler

Biorenewable, Biodegradable Plastic Alternative Synthesized By CSU Chemists

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — June 21, 2018 — Colorado State University polymer chemists have taken another step toward a future of high-performance, biorenewable, biodegradable plastics.

Publishing in Nature Communications, the team led by Professor of Chemistry Eugene Chen describes chemical synthesis of a polymer called bacterial poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), or P3HB. The compound shows early promise as a substitute for petroleum plastics in major industrial uses.

P3HB is a biomaterial, typically produced by bacteria, algae and other microorganisms, and is used in some biomedical applications. Its high production costs and limited volumes render the material impractical in more widespread commodity applications, however.

The team, which includes the paper’s first author and research scientist Xiaoyan Tang, used a starting material called succinate, an ester form of succinic acid. This acid is produced via fermentation of glucose and is first on the U.S. Department of Energy’s list of top 12 biomass-derived compounds best positioned to replace petroleum-derived chemicals.

The researchers’ new chemical synthesis route produces P3HB that’s similar in performance to bacterial P3HB, but their route is faster and offers potential for larger-scale, cost-effective production for commodity plastic applications. This new route is enabled by a class of powerful new catalysts they have designed and synthesized. They have filed a provisional patent through CSU Ventures for the new technology.

Posted June 28, 2018

Source: CSU – Anne Manning

Steve Larson Receives TRSA Operator Lifetime Achievement Award

WASHINGTON — June 29, 2018 — Alsco Inc.’s Steve Larson is the 2018 recipient of the TRSA Operator Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a linen, uniform and facility services industry professional. He was recognized for exceptional service to both the industry and TRSA as a corporate leader and association enthusiast.

A career employee at Salt Lake City-based Alsco, Larson heads the company’s North American division. Founded in 1889, Alsco currently employs 18,000-plus people in 14 countries across five continents. The company is the largest family-owned laundry operator in the United States and Canada.

For 36 years, Lifetime Achievement awards have recognized the industry’s most dedicated association members. Presented as often as annually, occasionally to more than one individual at a time, the honor highlights individual business leadership and TRSA accomplishments.

Larson is a past board member of TRSA and past president of the Western Textile Services Association. A veteran attendee of TRSA programs dedicated to improving laundry productivity, such as the Production Summit & Plant Tours, he has strongly supported Alsco employees’ participation in the association’s professional development programs.

Accordingly, he has repeatedly opened Alsco facilities to management from other industry companies, reciprocating opportunities to learn about innovations he benefited from via his association connections.

Larson began working for Alsco in Portland, Ore. During his high school years, washing trucks on weekends for the company. In 1968, he earned a scholarship created for the sons and daughters of Alsco employees. After graduating from Washington State University in 1972, Larson worked for Alsco in Portland, Tacoma, Wash., and Honolulu, before becoming California regional manager in 1997. He was promoted to his current position in 2006.

Posted June 28, 2018

Source: TRSA

My Size Issued U.S. Patent For Smart Mobile Measurement Technology

AIRPORT CITY, Israel —June 28, 2018 —  MySize Inc., a developer and creator of smartphone measurement applications, announced today it has been notified by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that it has been issued a patent to protect intellectual property with respect to its smartphone measurement technology.

The patent applies to the technology that powers My Size’s suite of smart mobile measurement solutions such as MySizeID™, BoxSizeID™, SizeUp™, QSize™ and more.

“We are pleased to have been issued this patent from the USPTO which adds another layer of intellectual property protection to our smartphone measurement solutions in the United States,” said My Size CEO Ronen Luzon. “As multiple industries including retail, parcel, and DIY continue to seek out technology solutions to help improve their bottom line, it is crucial for us to secure the competitive advantage that our innovative solutions bring to the market.”

U.S. Patent 10,004,429, titled “Method and system for measuring a path length using a handheld electronic device” includes repeatedly tumbling forward the handheld electronic device so as to cover the path to be measured; sensing a rotational change of the handheld electronic device; counting fractional increments of revolution of the handheld electronic device with respect to a starting position; and estimating the path length based on the counted fractional increments of revolution.

The company has now been issued two patents in the U.S. together with a patent in Russia and Japan as it continues to seek intellectual property protection for its innovative technologies. Prior to this issuance, the company received notification from the World Intellectual Property Organization that its pending patent application PCT/IL2016/050905 “A system for and a method of measuring using a handheld electronic devise” is in the National Phase of review in Russia.

Posted June 28, 2018

Source: My Size, Inc.

Chargeurs Fashion Technologies Acquires Precision Custom Coatings’ Interlinings Business

NEW YORK CITY — June 28, 2018 — Chargeurs Fashion Technologies, the world’s second-largest apparel interlinings manufacturer, today announced that it is acquiring Precision Custom Coatings’ (PCC’s) interlinings business as a key pillar of its U.S. and worldwide expansion strategy. The acquisition, the company’s first in the United States and its largest to date, will expand Chargeurs Fashion Technologies’ global footprint and propel the business into new technical performance wear categories, such as outerwear, performance apparel and athleisure, as well as intimate apparel. Chargeurs Fashion Technologies currently works with luxury, ready-to-wear and fast-fashion brands that include Chanel, Gucci, Hermès and Uniqlo.

Chargeurs also announced that Angela Chan, managing director and president of Chargeurs Fashion Technologies, will be responsible for overseeing the company’s worldwide expansion. Chan is an industry leader with expertise across sourcing, business development, merchandising, product development and multichannel retail in North America and Asia. Additionally, current PCC CEO Scott Tesser will join Chargeurs Fashion Technologies as chief sales officer, reporting directly to Chan, and will be responsible for the combined entity’s global sales strategy.

“This acquisition is our most important to date and will be a game changer for our client base,” said Michaël Fribourg, Chargeurs’ Group chairman and CEO. “Angela Chan is very well prepared to lead the successful integration of the two companies, and this transformative agreement will create a global champion with operations across Europe, the Americas and Asia. The newly combined entity will offer clients solutions that perfectly address their needs in terms of technical and operational performance.”

“I’m thrilled to be leading Chargeurs Fashion Technologies as we write a new chapter in the company’s history by consolidating a niche business that requires just the right blend of speed, technical content, differentiation and expertise,” said Chan. “Thanks to PCC’s excellent strategic fit, we will be able to provide global solutions that help fashion leaders transform their business models, particularly as they shift toward a real-time supply chain.”

Since late 2015, Chargeurs Fashion Technologies has been executing a strategy that involves a more selective marketing approach and it has been systematically upscaling its offerings, showcasing them in new showrooms in Paris, New York and Milan.

“We have the utmost confidence that Angela Chan’s wide-ranging experience and in-depth understanding of the industry’s key challenges will enable her to lead our expansion into the all-important U.S. market and beyond as we continue to execute our global vision,” Fribourg added.

“We are all excited by the opportunity this transaction creates,” said Tesser. “Chargeurs’ innovative product range and global presence, combined with PCC’s powerful commercial strategy and close brand relationships in the US and Asia, will ensure we maintain a substantial market presence and achieve sustainable growth.”

The acquisition, which consists of a share deal of PCC Asia and an asset deal of the PCC USA interlinings business carveout, is expected to result in no redundancies and to be completed by the end of 2018. PCC has annual revenues of more than $80 million and employs 300 people in 10 countries worldwide.

Posted June 28, 2018

Source: Chargeurs Fashion Technologies

Shawmut Corp. To Merge Glen Raven Technical Fabrics Headliner Fabric Operations With Global Lamination Platform

WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. — June 28, 2018 — Shawmut Corp., a developer of high-performance composites, and Glen Raven Technical Fabrics (GRTF), a global provider of innovative technical fabric solutions, announced today that the companies have agreed to terms to merge GRTF’s automotive headliner and specialty industrial fabrics business into Shawmut.

The transaction is a logical evolution for Shawmut and GRTF, a division of Glen Raven Inc., whose 18-year strategic relationship has redefined standards for quality and technical support in the industry and earned them an undisputed NAFTA market leadership position. The merger will fully integrate Shawmut’s market-leading composite development capabilities and global lamination platform with Glen Raven’s world-class specialty industrial fabrics operation.

The newly merged organization will be majority-owned by Shawmut, with Glen Raven as the minority owner. Shawmut CEO James Wyner will lead the new organization, which will be jointly governed by a three-member Board of Managers. Harold Hill, president of GRTF, will serve as Glen Raven’s representative on the Board.

“We are very excited about this next phase of our relationship with our long-time partners at Glen Raven,” Wyner said. “Joining our automotive headliner operations into a single company will unlock the next level of synergies, support continued aggressive technology investment, streamline the global fabric innovation and development process, and reinforce Shawmut’s position as the undisputed market leader in automotive headliner fabrics.”

“The combination of these two industry leaders is powerful,” Hill said. “It brings together two highly-talented organizations with complementary skills and compatible cultures. We are both values-driven companies with an unwavering dedication to our associates, as well as a commitment to excellence. I’m excited by the opportunities this merger will create for both organizations, and for the associates who will have the chance to become part of this new venture.”

The combined entity will include all Shawmut locations together with Glen Raven’s Park Avenue manufacturing operation and its associated specialty industrial fabric product lines. Those products include fabrics for automotive headliner, ultra-lightweight camouflage and netting systems, military apparel and filtration applications. The resulting business will employ nearly 700 people in six different countries, with production facilities in the U.S., Mexico, Czech Republic and China, and commercial and technical support offices in the U.S., Germany, China and Japan. The transaction is expected to close mid-summer.

Posted June 28, 2018

Source: Shawmut Corp.

Loop Industries Announces World’s First Integrated Waste To Loop™ PET Resin Manufacturing Technology

TERREBONNE, Quebec— June 27, 2018 — Loop Industries Inc. announced that, as a next step in commercializing its Generation II technology, it is designing a fully integrated manufacturing facility to upcycle waste PET and polyester fiber into virgin quality Loop™ PET resin and polyester fiber. Loop is in the process of engaging engineering partners to complete the integrated design.

“A fully integrated start-to-finish process will soon exist to commercialize Loop’s innovative Generation II technology and help tackle the global plastic crisis,” said Daniel Solomita, CEO and Founder of Loop. “These facilities will make it possible for all forms of waste PET and polyester fiber, even ocean plastics that have been degraded by the sun and saltwater, to be fully recovered and upcycled into PET of the highest purity and performance quality.”

This integrated innovation will join Loop’s proprietary depolymerization technology with state of the art PET production processes, allowing plastic waste to be utilized as feedstock to produce Loop PET resin and facilitate the transition to a circular economy. The technology will take waste PET and polyester fiber that can include PET plastic bottles and packaging of any color, transparency or condition, and carpet and other polyester textiles that may contain colors, dyes or additives and separate the PET from all contaminants to produce virgin quality FDA-approved food-safe Loop™ PET resin and polyester fiber.

“To encourage more recycling at the community level and reduce climate causing emissions, Loop facilities are planned to be optimally located adjacent to large population centers where ample feedstock can be found,” added Solomita.

This integrated manufacturing design will be the basis for Loop’s commercialization strategy, which is now the company’s focus in order to capitalize on its technology and respond to the demands of consumers, governments, non-governmental organizations and brand owners who have committed to ambitious sustainability targets.

Posted June 27, 2018

Source: Loop Industries

Grace Licenses UNIPOL® PP Process Technology To Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk.

COLUMBIA, Md. — June 26, 2018 — W. R. Grace & Co., an independent supplier of polyolefin catalyst technology and polypropylene (PP) process technology, has granted a license which allows PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk. (CAP) to expand its existing UNIPOL® PP plant. The world-scale capacity UNIPOL PP facility, located in Ciwandan, Indonesia, will be expanded to 590 KTA of polypropylene.

CAP is the largest integrated petrochemical company in Indonesia and operates the country’s only world-scale size Naphtha Cracker. The CAP plant is strategically located in Banten province, providing convenient access to key customers.

Grace’s all gas-phase UNIPOL PP Process Technology provides the most advanced and broadest range of homopolymers, random copolymers, and impact copolymers in the industry. As the simplest of all PP process technologies, without any moving parts inside of the reactor and less equipment than any alternative, its reliable, safe, and stable operation leads to lower capital, operating, and maintenance costs.

Suryandi, CAP’s corporate secretary, said: “The expansion of our plant gives us the opportunity to serve the growing PP market demand in Indonesia. The UNIPOL PP Process Technology gives us the ability to make a broad range of products and remain highly competitive in the region.”

Al Beninati, President of Grace’s Specialty Catalysts business segment, said, “Grace is excited to partner with CAP and enable them to expand their supply of advanced PP products to customers in Indonesia. Combined with our non-phthalate CONSISTA® catalysts, the UNIPOL PP Process Technology will help the Ciwandan facility meet the increasing demand for polypropylene resins in the Indonesian market.”

Posted June 27, 2018

Source: W. R. Grace & Co

1...1,3361,3371,338...2,523Page 1,337 of 2,523

Sponsors

Breaking News

Load more

Digital Issue

2025 Quarterly Issue Number II

View Latest Digital Issue

FEATURED ARTICLES

© Copyright 2017 Textile Industries Media Group, LLC.